Archive For The “DOMA” Category

Join myself and Ryan Fuller for an informative LGBT seminar to learn what living in a Post-DOMA world means for you and your family. Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and great company while we discuss the progress that has been made over the last 18 months and what we have to look forward to ahead! Space […]

What does it mean to be married? How is it different? Join Giampolo Law Group on November 18th from 6-9pm for an information session on what living in a post-DOMA world means for you and your family. The event is being hosted by 1352 Lofts in Philadelphia! Come enjoy wine and light fare and take in the exceptional view […]

On November 6th join myself and Ryan Fuller at The Cub Room in New Hope for an informative LGBT seminar to learn what living in a Post-DOMA world means for you and your family. Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and great company while we discuss the progress that has been made over the last 18 months […]

On October 28th join Richard Hand and Myself for an informative LGBT seminar to learn what living in a Post-DOMA world means for you. Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and great company while we discuss the progress that has been made over the last 18 months and what we have to look forward to ahead! Click for […]

Last week marked the one year anniversary since the Supreme Court decisions on same-sex marriages were made from the Edie Windsor case. In just on year so much has already happened and yet, there is much more to come! Take a listen to my discussion on America Weekend for an update of the same-sex […]

The fight for marriage equality has entered into a new phase garnering a different perspective with respect to legal strategy. Pennsylvania joined the ranks (becoming the 19th state) on May 20 when U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III of the Middle District of Pennsylvania declared that Pennsylvania’s version of the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in Whitewood v. Wolf, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68937 (May 20, 2014). The elation was palpable in Philadelphia, as hundreds of LGBT individuals and their allies gathered on the steps of City Hall to celebrate no longer being second-class citizens in Pennsylvania, alongside the American Civil Liberties Union, the Whitewood legal team of Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller and several of the plaintiffs.

Of the same-sex marriage rulings that occurred in other states so far this year—Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, Oregon, Arkansas and Idaho—seven (except for Oregon) had their rulings stayed pending appeal, and thus those cases have been kicked up to their respective circuit courts. Unlike most other marriage equality cases, Pennsylvania’s decision was not appealed.

Today on WHYY’s Radio Times, Marty Moss-Coane hosted myself, one of my best friends and colleague, PA Rep Brian Sims, and someone I’ve known for way too long for just meeting in person, Law professor and author, John Culhane, discussing Judge Jones’ ruling legalizing same-same marriage in the Commonwealth. We chatted about Pennsylvania legalizing same-sex […]

The fight for marriage equality in Pennsylvania may finally be coming to an end. There are multiple same-sex marriage cases that have been filed in Pennsylvania, but the American Civil Liberties Union and Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller’s Whitewood v. Wolf, No. 13-1861-JEJ, filed a motion for summary judgment April 21 that was not contested. The case was brought on behalf of 21 plaintiffs (10 couples and one child) alleging that Pennsylvania’s state Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and argues that the law substantially effects the fundamental right to marry and discriminates based on sex and sexual orientation. Originally set to be heard in June, we could have a ruling from U.S. District Judge John E. Jones of the Middle District of Pennsylvania as early as today.

Respect your elders. It’s one of the early cornerstones of manners that we are taught as kids. Yet LGBT elders don’t always automatically receive this same respect. Our LGBT elder trailblazers came out under fire, grew up when being gay was considered a mental-health disorder and survived everything from intense bullying to living closeted the majority of their lives to the AIDS crisis to police brutality — all so that they could be whom they are and love whom they love. In my opinion, they have more than earned our respect: They have earned our awe and admiration.

However, as our LGBT seniors age, they become a severely underrepresented demographic within the community — whom we name “Gen-Silent,” reflecting their tendency to be forced into the closet again later in life and their inability to fight discrimination on their own behalf. Thankfully, Philadelphia is showing its LGBT seniors respect and addressing one of their most crucial and immediate needs: housing.

About Angela

Angela D. Giampolo, known as PhillyGayLawyer, is an attorney, avid entrepreneur, and advocate for the LGBT community. She started her own law firm Giampolo Law Group (GLG) in 2008 with the intention of providing a safe place for the LGBT community to service all of their legal needs with practice areas including business law, LGBT law, family law, real estate, and international law.
Angela is an active columnist for Philadelphia Gay News, The Legal Intelligencer, and Philadelphia Business Journal, and maintains a blog www.phillygaylawyer.com that serves as a valuable resource for LGBT legal updates. She has appeared as a legal analyst for LGBT issues on Fox Radio, NPR, WHYY amd America Weekend and she is currently developing a LGBT specific radio show with Q102 Producer Loraine Ballard Morrill called SpeakOUT. As an active member in the community she serves as Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia (GALLOP), is on the board of the Liberty City Democratic club, International Visitors Center and the National Adoption Center.